Effect of hydropriming on germination and seedling vigorof pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

The effect of hydropriming on germination and seedling vigor of pigeonpea was studied on four hybrids and six inbred lines at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India. Seeds of each genotype were soaked in distilled water at room temperature (25°C) for two, four, and six hours. Non-primed seeds were used as a control. Research revealed that the length of hydropriming had a significant effect on number of seedlings germinated in day three, days to 60% germination, plumule length on day eight, and the radicle length on day twenty. Hydropriming seeds for four hours led to faster germination and longer plumule (cm) and radicle lengths (cm). Soil type also significantly affected seedling growth, with larger seedlings growing in Alfisols (16.5 cm plumule, 11.9 cm radicle) as compared to Vertisols (14.6 cm plumule, 10.3 cm radicle). Highest seedling vigor index was exhibited in control (2693.79) with four hours soaking (2660.35) treatment. The results of this study showed that pigeonpea can be hydroprimed for four hours to induce faster germination. Hydropriming for four hours can be recommended in rainfed pigeonpea areas where there is lack of sufficient moisture in the soil as it maintain seedling vigor due to longer radicle length and probably expresses for high drought tolerance while over priming for six hours reduced germination rate and detrimental to seedlings